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www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 6 CITY VIEWS April 24, 2026 2nd Annual “Chaitra Garba Night And Bollywood Beats” Fundraiser Raises More Than $25,000 M ore than 300 music lovers and community sup- porters gathered for the 2nd Annual Chaitra Garba Night & Bollywood Beats on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Ember Premium Banquets in South Brunswick, New Jersey. The evening raised more than $25,000 to donate and provide aware- ness for two “meaningful” causes: The National Chil- dren’s Cancer Society and The Food Bank Network of New Jersey, organizers said in a press release. More than 300 music lovers and community support- ers gathered for the 2nd Annual Chaitra Garba Night & Bollywood Beats on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Ember Premium Banquets in South Brunswick, New Jersey. The evening raised more than $25,000 to donate and provide awareness for two “meaningful” causes: The National Children’s Cancer Society and The Food Bank Network of New Jersey, organizers said in a press release. The event was put together by well-known singer Foram Shah through her nonprofit initiative, ForamMu- sic, accompanied by her live musical band. The evening was gracefully emceed by Dr. Tushar Patel, who highlight- ed ForamMusic’s mission of using music as a platform for community service and cultural enrichment. Among the generous supporters and event sponsors were Rupen and Hina Patel; Dax Patel of Ember was the Grand Supporter. Additional contributions came from fromMukund Thaker of Arista Care, Smile for Om, Spine Nerve Joint Institute, Smile Plus Dentistry, Dr. Suresh & Darshana Modi, Rashmi Kamdar, Nitin Khandwala, Dr. Pranay Vaidya, Atish Shah, Sunil Nayak, Nayan Parikh, Atul Shah and Uttpal & Della Jagad. A major highlight of the program was the vigorous Bollywood Beats segment by Foram Shah, along with a heartfelt tribute to legendary singer Asha Bhosle. The musical journey featured a rich blend of classical, golden- era, and contemporary songs performed by Foram Shah and Rakesh Patel, keeping the audience engaged through the night. Funds raised at the 2nd Annual Chaitra Garba Night & Bollywood Beats on Sunday, April 12, 2026, The celebration continued with an energetic Chaitra Garba segment, where guests participated in traditional dance set to dynamic rhythms. The evening concluded with lively dance numbers and Bhangra. Foram Shah reaffirmed her commitment to preserving and promoting the foundation of Indian classical music, particularly among younger generations eager to learn and stay connected to their cultural roots. The event also featured professional photography by Neeraj Gamadia and expert sound engineering by Nikul Shah, ensuring a seamless and high-quality audio-visual experience, the press release said. Guests enjoyed a selection of appetizers and dinner provided by Ember Premium Banquets. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:NEERAJ GAMADIA COURTESY ORGANIZERS Foram Shah, left, the main organizer of the 2nd Annual Chaitra Garba Night & Bollywood Beats on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Princeton, NJ. Funds raised at the 2nd Annual Chaitra Garba Night & Bollywood Beats on Sunday, April 12, 2026. India-Based NGO Kheyti Wins $250,000 Lipman Family Grand Prize @University Of Pennsylvania A non-governmental organization that helps Indian small farmers, Kheyti, has been named the grand prize winner of the 2026 Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize. Chosen frommore than 300 applicants from around the globe, Kheyti, which was co-founded by CEO, Kaushik Kappagantulu, “stood out as the only social enterprise offering full-service greenhouse solutions specifically designed for smallholder farmers,” an April 20, 2026, press release from UPenn said. Founded in 2015, Kheyti’s goal is to reduce climate risk and increase farmer income. As the 2026 grand prize winner, Kheyti will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, as well as executive education benefits and support from theWharton School and the University of Pennsylvania.. The other two winners, Barefoot College International and Food for All Africa will each receive $150,000, plus the other benefits same as Kheyti. The 2026 winners were celebrated at the 15th annual Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony held in Philadel- phia, PA on April 16, 2026 Lipman Prize Director Euria Min said, “We are thrilled to recognize Kheyti as the 2026 Grand PrizeWinner as they represent bold vision and exceptional leadership. They are addressing critical challenges in ways that are deeply rooted in their communities, and scalable in their ambition. Kheyti reminds us that there is no one-size- fits-all solution to social impact; only leaders who are willing to think differently, act courageously, and adapt as they grow.” “We are deeply humbled and honored to be named the 2026 Lipman Family Grand PrizeWinner,” said Kap- pagantulu. “This recognition is a tribute to the incredible resilience of the smallholder farmers we serve and the dedication of the Kheyti team working alongside them every day.” Kappagantulu added that the $250,000 award will di- rectly fuel Kheyti’s strategic plan to reach tens of thousands of farmers over the next three years through investments in government partner- ships and AI-powered advisory services. “We are also excited about the partnership opportunities withWharton and the University of Pennsylvania as we work to make climate- smart farming accessible to every small farmer who needs it,” Kappagantulu said. Kheyti doubles smallholder farmer incomes, protecting them from extreme weather, and makes agriculture significantly more sustainable through its affordable, modular, Greenhouse- in-a-Box, an ultra low-cost greenhouse bundled with end-to-end services. The Prize aims to connect those on the cusp of great change with resources, skills and people power to expand the impact and influence of their ideas. First awarded in 2012, the Lipman Family Prize is an annual global prize that advances creative solutions by inspiring people to think together in new ways, the press release said. Administered by theWharton School on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania, the Prize is committed to resourcing and connecting change- makers to bring innovative ideas to new places and prob- lems around the world. Previous grand prize winners in- clude iDE, READ Global, Breakthrough, Riders for Health, SoccerWithout Borders, Women Against Abuse, MyAgro, World Bicycle Relief, Sanku, EarthEnable, CDD Society, Build Up Nepal, Seacology, and Barbershops Books. By a StaffWriter Kheyti supported farmers in India. PHOTO:@HTTPS://LIPMANFAMILYPRIZE.WHARTON.UPENN. EDU/WINNERS/2026/KHEYTI/